Merry-go-round.



Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

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Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

J. A. MILLER.l

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE a, 1912.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

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LA. MILLER.

MBRRY-GO-ROUND.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE s, 1912* Patented J an. '7, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,\\/ASH1NGTON, D. c,

J. A. MILLER. MERRY-Go-ROUND..

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1912.

Patented J an. '7, 1918.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..\vAsmNGToN, n. c.

JOHN A. MILLER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

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Specification of Letters Patent Patented Jan. 7,1913.

- Application filed June 8, 1912. Serial No. 702,441.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MILLER, `a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Merry- Go- Rounds, of which the following is a specilisation.

This invention relates to improvements in amusementdevices known as a merry-goround in which a circular moving platform, on which are mounted boats or horses or both, is driven from a motor by means of suitable overhead gearing and arms.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong durable and safe construction which can be easily andA quickly knocked down to occupy small space in transportation. Another object of the invention is to permanently mount the main driving gear and mechanism on a vertical center shaft which is mounted on a wagon, and to` provide means for raising the shaft and gear together to a vertical position of the shaft, and for lowering them to a horizontal position of the shaft convenient for hauling, without detaching them from the wagon in either position, and to mount an engine by which the merry-go round is driven, on :the wagon ready for use.

The further object of the invention is to provide a double transmission of power to the main gear distributed on opposite sides of the center shaft to equalize thes'train on the machine and to make its operat-ion more uniform.

The object, also, is to simplify and improve the machine in its various details as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

I accomplish the objects of the invention bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragment in vert-ical section of a merry-go-round embodying my' improvements looking at the rear end' of the wagon.. .Fig 2 is a likeview on a vertical plane at right angles to thatshown in Fig. 1. Fig.'3 is a view in side elevation, on a larger scale, of the wagon as shown in Fig. 2 with the center shaft in horizontal position. Fig. 4: isV ak view on a larger scale in crosssection on the line 4-1 of Fig. 1 showing the transmission gear in plan view. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top plan view yof a e portion ofthe platform of the wagon showing t-he slotted opening in the platform for s the. unobstructed movement of the center shaft during the raising and lowering of the latter. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Fig. 8. f

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 10 is the center shaft which supports the radial arms 11 from which the circular platform 12 is suspended by the rods 13 in the usual manner. In the device illustrated there are sixteen of the arms 11 extending radially tothe outer limits of the machine as defined by a bandlt connecting the outer ends of said arms 11. A canvas roof (not shown) extending from the center shaft 10 j is in its vertical and operative position. A u

sleeve 16 on the'shaft 10 has sockets to en-y gage the ends of diagonal braces 17, and sockets 18 onthe timbers 15 receiveand hold the lower ends of the braces 17. Supported on thetimbers 15 are two A-frames 18 having a journal `at their intersect-ions in which diametrically opposite horizontal shaft extensions 19, from the center shaft 10, are mounted. The center shaft 10 passes. through a slot 20 (see Fig. 6) of t-he platform 21 of a wagon which is mounted on four wheels 22 in the usual manner. Mounted on the platform 21 of the wagon are the two A-frames 28, having journals at their upper ends to receive the horizontal shaftq extensions 19.

When 4it is desired to lower the center shaft 10 from its operative vertical position to the horizontal position for transportation, as shown in Fig. 3, the wagon is jacked up until the weight of the shaft 10 and the l l weight carried by it rests through extensions 19 on the frames 23, andk the shaft 10 having previously been `disconnected from all parts eXcept the main transmission and gear, as shown in Fig. 3, is readily moved from a vertical position to the horizontal one of Fig. 3 by swinging on its horizontal 5 Shafts 19.

Referring to Fig. 5 the sleeve 16 has an annular flange 24, and above this flange and surrounding the extension of the sleeve thereabove is a hub 25 having a horizontal disk 26 below which is a series of sockets, here shown as thirty-two in number, (see Fig. 7) to receive the inner ends of the siX- teen radial arms 11, previously referred to and also to receive the inner ends of a like number of much shorter radial arms 27. The radial arms 11 are removable, and will be withdrawn from their sockets when the merry-go-round is knocked down for shipment, but the short arms 27 remain permanently in their positions. The hub rotates around the shaft 10 and sleeve 16, and to reduce the friction I provide the roller bearings 28 between the hub and sleeve. Depending from and supported by 25 the short arms 27 by means of hangers-29 is a gear wheel 30 comprising concentric vertical bands which are connected by horizontal pins 31, together forming a horizontal gear wheel to which power for rotating 30 the arms 11 and 27 and their hub 25 is applied. This driving power is applied simultaneously at two diametrically opposite portions of the gear wheel 30 through pinions 31 mounted on the respective shaft 33. The shafts 32 and 33 are supported by standards from the horizontal shaft eXtensions 19. A pulley on the shaft 32 is driven by a crossed belt 34 from a pulley on a horizontal shaft 35 supported by the frames 18 and a pulley on the shaft 33 is driven by a straight belt 36 from a pulley on the same shaft 35. The shaft 35 has a pulley which is driven by a belt 37 from a belt wheel on a motor 38 (see Fig. 2) mounted on the platform 21 of the wagon. A music-box 39 also mounted on the platform 21 of the wagon is driven by a belt 40 from a suitable pulley on the shaft 35.

The platform 12 being suspended by rods 13 from the arms 11 is carried around by the travel of the arms 11, in the usual manner. Mounted on the platform 12 are the usual boats, horses, or other gures, and to some of these it is desired to transmit movement independent of that imparted by the platform 12 or arms 11, and I will now describe the means by which such independent movement is imparted.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, 41 is a large beveled wheel, the hub of which is securely fastened to the shaft 10 whereby the wheel will be immovably held. Resting upon and secured to the permanent short arms 27 is an annu- 65 lar plate 42, upon which is a series of standards 43, there being one standard above each of the sixteen arms 27, and mounted in suitablel journals supported by said standards are horizontal shafts 44. Mounted on the inner ends of the shafts 44 at alternately varying distances from the center of the shaft 10 in order to avoid interference with each other are the beveled pinions 45 and 46. The shafts 44 are mounted near their outer endsv in journals supported by the standards 47, and the ends of the shafts 44 beyond the journals 47 are cranked, as shown in Fig. 1, and rods 48 from said crank portions extend down to and support the horses or other movable portions of the device, (not shown) to receive passengers, which it is desired to move independently of the travel of the platform 12.

By the meshing of the teeth of pinions 45- and 46 which move progressively in a circle around the stationary wheel 41 a continuous rotary movement is imparted to the shafts 44. Ball bearings 50 are interposed between the hub 25 and the hub of the wheel 41 to reduce the friction between said parts.

The standards 43 supporting the shafts 44 have journal boxes with hinged caps 52 which are locked in closed position by means of a bolt 53 pivoted at its lower end to an ear from the lower member of the journal boX and entering a slot in an ear integral with the cap 52. A nut on the upper threaded end of the bolt 53 provides means for retaining the latter in a locked position. When it is desired to dismember the merry-go-round the caps 52 are unfastened and raised and the shafts 44 with their beveled pinions intact are removed, and after that the long arms 11 are removed from their sockets and their diagonal braces 63 are disengaged. Then the braces 17 are taken away as also are the belts 34 and 36, and the belts 37 and 40; then the wagon is jacked up until the weight is removed from the frames 18 and rests upon the inner frames 23, and the shaft 10 with the abovedescribed permanently affixed gears is swung down into a horizontal position of the shaft 10, and thereupon the timbers 15 are disjointed and they and frames 18 are removed leaving the wagon free and unobstructed. The capacity of the wagon will preferably be ample to accommodate all of the several parts of the merry-go-round which have been disconnected, as above described.

While I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards details of construction and arrangement and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly or any more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary, I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction, and arrangement, the omission of immaterial elements,

and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

I claim:

l. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, lateral extensions forming trunnions upon which the shaft is swung, a w-agon, and frames mounted on the wagon to support the trunnions.

2. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, lateral extensions to form trunnions upon which the shaft is swung, said shaft having a hub with arm supporting means, means for transmittingrotary movement to said hub, said hub and said last means being mounted to swing with the shaft on its trunnions, a wagon, and frames mounted on the wagon to support'the trunnions.

3. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, lateral extensions to form trunnions` upon which the shaft is swung, radial arm attaching and rotating means carried by the shaft, frames to support the trunnions of the shaft when the latter is' in operative vert-ical position, a wagon between said frames, and auxiliary frames mounted on the wagon to support the trunnions when the shaft is being raised or lowered or the machine moved.

4t. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, a hub on said shaft, said hub having radial arm-sockets, removable arms in approxik mately one half of said sockets and shorter fixed arms in the remaining sockets, af horizontal gear wheel depending from said shorter xed arms, a pair of pinions drivingly engaging said horizontal gear wheel at diametrically opposite parts of the latter, and means for driving said pinions.

5. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, a hub on said shaft, roller bearings between the hub and shaft, said hub having radial armsockets, removable arms in approxie mately one half of said sockets and shorter fixed arms in the remaining sockets, a horizontal gear wheel depending from said shorter fixed arms, said gear wheel comprising a pair of concentric spaced-apart vertical bands and radial pins connecting said bands, a pair of pinions drivingly engaging t-he radial pins of said horizontal gear wheel at diametrically opposite parts of the wheel, and means for driving said pinions.

6. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, a hub on said shaft, said hub having radial arm-sockets, removable arms in approximately one half of said sockets, shorter fixed arms in the remaining sockets, a horizontal gear wheel depending` from said shorter fixed arms, a pair of pinions drivingly engaging said horizontal gear wheel at diametrically opposite parts of the latter, means for driving said pinions, a stationary beveled wheel mounted above said hub, a plurality of beveled pinions in a plurality of concentric rows meshing with said beveled wheel, radial crank-shafts on which said pinions are mounted, and journal-boxes for said crank-shafts.

7. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft, a stationary beveled wheel mounted on the shaft, a plurality of beveledpinions in a plurality of concentric rows meshing with said beveled wheel, radial crank-shafts on `which said pinions are mounted, means for moving the crank-shaft in a horizontal plane around the central shaft and journal-boxes for said crank-shaft.

8. In a merry-go-round, a central shaft,

lateral extensions to form trunnions upon which the shaft is swung, frames to support the trunnions, a hub mounted on said shaft having radial arm supporting sockets, xed arms in some of said sockets, a horizontal gear wheel supported by the 'fixed arms, a shaft supported on said trunnions, and a pair of pinions mounted on said shaft and engaging diametrically opposite parts of said horizontal gear wheel.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Kankakee, Illinois, this 21st day of May, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twelve.

J. C. BIBB, W. H. Pnex.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

